Departmental Training

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to the answer of 28 January 2009,  Official Report, column 501W, on departmental training, which Ministers attended the  (a) presentation and public speaking skills course and  (b) introduction workshop for new Ministers; and how much those courses cost.

Ann McKechin: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 19 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1287W.

Highways Agency: Members

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will make it his policy to direct the Highways Agency to accept requests from hon. Members to accompany them to site meetings in relation to work authorised by the Highways Agency; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  for what reasons the Highways Agency decided that no member of staff would accompany the hon. Member for Walsall North to a site meeting in his constituency on 20 March in relation to work being undertaken under the authorisation of the Highways Agency;
	(3)  what mechanisms are used by the Highways Agency for public consultation on work it plans to undertake which is likely to affect households near the site of such work;
	(4)  if he will make it his policy to direct the Highways Agency to notify each household in an area in which work authorised by the Highways Agency is to be carried out; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: holding answer 20 March 2009
	The Highways Agency already accepts reasonable requests to meet hon. Members either on site or separately on any schemes for which it is responsible.
	Representatives from the Highways Agency accompanied the hon. Member for Walsall, North to a site meeting on 20 March to discuss the details of the Active Traffic Management scheme currently being undertaken on the M6 in his constituency.
	Where appropriate, the Highways Agency consults those likely to be affected by schemes being undertaken, and this was the case with the scheme on the M6. The Highways Agency has followed all environmental assessment and statutory procedures, including issuing public notices. It has listened to concerns raised, and has taken residents' concerns about current noise levels into consideration. An exhibition is planned where further issues can be raised. The scheme design has also been reviewed in the light of comments received.
	Schemes carried out by the Highways Agency on or near highway land vary in complexity and scale. For schemes planned outside of the highway boundary, such as bypass work, the Highways Agency makes every effort to contact individual households and businesses likely to be affected.
	Work carried out within the highway boundary tends to be of a relatively smaller scale, or is carried out as part of a routine maintenance programme. Although there is no statutory requirement for local residents to be contacted ahead of schemes taking place within the highway boundary, and it would be impractical and costly for the Highway's Agency to undertake to contact individual households for each one of these schemes, the Highways Agency seeks to ensure that public involvement takes place in a proportionate manner.

Intercity Express Programme

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the evidential basis is for his statement of 12 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1531-3W, on new trains (investment) that the award of the contract to Agility Trains and Hitachi and granting preferred bidder status to Bombardier in relation to extra carriages on the Stansted Express will safeguard or create 12,500 jobs.

Paul Clark: These figures are based on information given by Agility Trains to the Department of Transport and we believe Agility's analysis to be sound.
	The figure is exclusive of any job benefits arising as a result of the announcement of Bombardier's status as Preferred Bidder for extra carriages on Stansted Express.

Railways

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many staff in his Department have worked on projects relating to high speed rail  (a) between April and 29 September 2008 and  (b) after 29 September 2008.

Paul Clark: I refer the hon. Member to the answer on 25 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1189W.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Statement of 12 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 1531-3, how many of the 12,500 jobs he expects will be  (a) existing jobs safeguarded and  (b) new jobs created (i) in the train vehicle manufacturing industry and (ii) for third party suppliers to the industry; and on what assumptions these estimates are based.

Paul Clark: holding answer 6 March 2009
	Agility Trains anticipates that of the estimated 12,500 total jobs to be created or safeguarded, 2,500 will be directly employed by the Agility Trains consortium. Of these, 1,400 (estimate) jobs will be safeguarded in train maintenance, and 1,100 (estimate) jobs will be created in train and factory construction.
	Of the remaining estimated 10,000 jobs Agility Trains anticipate that they are likely to be within train vehicle component suppliers, third party suppliers and the wider economy. Agility Trains advises that it has adopted an industry standard multiplier assumption, used with regard to the automotive industry, that each direct job will create, or secure, circa four jobs within the supply chain and the wider economy.

Air Force: Military Bases

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  with reference to the answer of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1520W, on the Air Force: military bases, when he now expects an announcement to be made regarding Programme Belvedere;
	(2)  when he expects to receive a recommendation on the preferred option for Programme Belvedere.

Bob Ainsworth: As explained in my written answer of 11 March 2009,  Official Report, column 430W, the future of Programme Belvedere is currently under consideration at senior levels within the Department. Once that review has concluded I will write to the hon. Member.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel are stationed overseas, broken down by location.

Bob Ainsworth: Figures for the number of service personnel stationed overseas can be found in table 1.1 of Tri-Service Publication (TSP) 10: UK Regular Forces stationed location. TSP 10 is published quarterly. The most recent publication shows figures at 1 October 2008 and can be found at:
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk/applications/newWeb/www/index .php?page=48&pubType=0&thiscontent=1800&Publish Time=09:30:00 &date=20090223&disText=01%20Oct%202008 &from=listing&top Date =2009-02-23

Departmental Recruitment

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 30W, on departmental recruitment, what estimate he has made of the annual salary cost of new  (a) permanent,  (b) temporary and  (c) agency staff recruited by his Department in each year since 2005-06.

Kevan Jones: The annual salary costs for permanent and temporary staff employed by the Department in each year since 2005-06 are published in departmental annual reports and accounts. We are unable to identify the costs of newly recruited staff separately. Salary costs of agency staff are met by their employing agencies and not by the Department.

Departmental Training

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 1 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1994W, on departmental training, which Ministers attended the pre-deployment training in preparation for visits to Iraq and Afghanistan; and how much that training cost.

John Hutton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Under-Secretary of State gave on 10 March 2009,  Official Report, column 235W, to the hon. Member for St. Albans (Anne Main).

Burma: United Nations

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether his Department has had contact with the Special Adviser to the UN Secretary General on Myanmar since 1 January 2009.

Bill Rammell: Our mission to the UN in New York is in regular contact with the UN Special Adviser, Ibrahim Gambari and his office. This dialogue was particularly frequent before and after Professor Gambari's visit to Burma from 31 January 2009 to 3 February 2009 and after his briefing to the UN Security Council on 20 February 2009.
	We continue to give our full support to the UN Secretary General's Good Offices mission.

Departmental Internet

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 369-73W, on the departmental internet, how many hits each of the websites maintained by his Department received in each of the last 12 months.

Caroline Flint: I will write to the hon. Member separately, as the answer is lengthy.

Departmental Public Expenditure

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 21 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 1523-6W, on departmental public expenditure, in what areas of expenditure the administration budget overspends in relation to  (a) Afghanistan,  (b) Australia,  (c) Brazil,  (d) Spain and  (e) the United States were incurred in 2007-08.

David Miliband: The main areas of overspend in administration budgets were:
	 (a) Afghanistan
	Subsistence and allowances
	Other purchased goods and services
	Telecommunications costs
	Freight and courier costs
	Other costs, including embassy catering services
	Other external/contract services
	 (b) Australia
	Subsistence and allowances
	Training costs
	IT costs
	Agency and casual staff
	Other external/contract services
	Maintenance and running costs
	Locally engaged staff salaries
	 (c) Brazil
	Freight and courier costs
	Vehicle costs
	Other purchased goods and services
	Medical costs
	Subsistence and allowances
	Locally engaged staff salaries
	Agency and casual staff
	Maintenance and running costs
	 (d) Spain
	Other purchased goods and services
	Other costs
	Training costs
	Locally engaged staff salaries
	Subsistence and allowances
	Telecommunications costs
	Other external/contract services
	Agency and casual staff
	 (e) US
	Consultancy and professional fees
	Freight and courier costs
	Hire of plant and machinery
	IT Costs
	Financial charges
	Stationery
	Agency and casual Staff
	Subsistence and allowances
	Maintenance and running costs
	Telecommunications costs
	Other purchased goods and services.

Departmental Public Expenditure

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1240W, on departmental public expenditure, what the cost to his Department of each UK contribution to peacekeeping operations overseas  (a) was in 2007-08 and  (b) has been in 2008-09.

David Miliband: Peacekeeping costs—both assessed costs to international missions and UK discretionary support to international and bilateral missions—have been met through the Peacekeeping Budget which is an annual claim on the Treasury Reserve and has been managed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on behalf of the FCO, Department for International Development and the Ministry of Defence (MOD). In 2007-08 and 2008-09, £374 million was allocated from the Treasury Reserve for Peacekeeping.
	Pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1240W, as a claim on the Treasury Reserve, the Peacekeeping Budget did not benefit from the Overseas Prices Mechanism. However, from the Peacekeeping Budget, assessed contributions to peacekeeping missions paid in foreign currencies by the FCO in 2007-08 were:
	
		
			   £ 
			 UN Integrated Office in Burundi (BINUB) 366,011 
			 UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) 5,771,218 
			 UN_Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) 15,184,311 
			 UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) 39,728,447 
			 UN_Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) 3,135,316 
			 UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) 25,403,196 
			 UN African Union—United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) 37,228,728 
			 UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) 28,920,533 
			 UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) 960,793 
			 UN Integrated Mission in East Timor(UNMIT) 4,727,871 
			 UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) 1,140,559 
			 UN Disengagement Observer Force Zone (UNDOF) 1,393,431 
			 UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) 19,062,884 
			 UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) 7,816,007 
			 UN Interim Force in Lebanon(UNIFIL) 25,003,407 
			 UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) 1,557,670 
			 UN International Criminal Court 6,429,102 
			 UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda 4,813,809 
			 UN International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia 6,252,619 
			 Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe field missions 8,377,220 
			 Total 243,273,132 
		
	
	At current exchange rates, estimated assessed contributions to peacekeeping missions paid in foreign currencies in 2008-09 are:
	
		
			   £ 
			 UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) 18,297,738 
			 UN_Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) 19,968,022 
			 UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) 49,272,772 
			 UN_Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) 1,334,652 
			 UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) 25,323,581 
			 UN African Union—United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) 64,197,346 
			 UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) 30,070,770 
			 UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus 1,392,357 
			 UN Integrated Mission in East Timor(UNMIT) 6,008,093 
			 UN Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) 1,462,365 
			 UN Disengagement Observer Force Zone (UNDOF) 1,834,559 
			 UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) 24,201,172 
			 UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) 7,480,504 
			 UN Interim Force in Lebanon(UNIFIL) 28,307,578 
			 UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) 1,764,832 
			 UN International Criminal Court 5,463,876 
			 UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda 5,403,725 
			 UN International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia 7,145,468 
			 UN/AU UN Logistical Support to African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) 1,960,880 
			 Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe field missions 9,633,681 
			 Total 310,523,971 
		
	
	The 2008-09 costs will be reduced by a transfer of £29.4 million from the FCO which includes gains from the benefits of the advanced purchase of foreign currency costs, based on estimated costs at the time of spring supplementary. Further assessed costs are attributed to the Peacekeeping Budget by the Treasury or paid in the relevant foreign currency by the MOD.

Hezbollah

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Minister of State's evidence to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on 4 March 2009, with which members of Hezbollah's political wing the Government has made contact.

Bill Rammell: On 9 January 2009 our ambassador in Beirut accompanied a group of British parliamentarians to a meeting with the Lebanese Foreign Affairs Committee that included the Hezbollah MP, Ali Amaar.

India: Terrorism

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens were injured during the events in Mumbai on 27 November 2008; what the  (a) nature and  (b) severity of such injuries was; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 20 March 2009
	Seven British nationals were seriously injured during the terrorist attacks in Mumbai in November 2008. For consular confidentiality and data protection reasons, the nature and severity of those injuries cannot be disclosed.

Iran: Nuclear Power

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Richmond, Yorks (Mr. Hague) of 5 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1747W, on Iran: nuclear power, what further sanctions he has considered pursuing at the United Nations.

Bill Rammell: The E3+3 made a generous offer to Iran in June 2008. This offer remains on the table. The offer presents Iran with an opportunity to transform its relationship with the international community and enjoy many significant benefits, if it suspends its enrichment programme and negotiates.
	However, in the event of Iran failing to take up this opportunity and continuing to disregard its international obligations to the UN and the International Atomic Energy Agency, we will be forced to consider further measures, including the consideration of further significant sanctions through the UN.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1429W, on Middle East: armed conflict, by what methods the risks that arms could be used for internal repression or external aggression are surveyed; and what steps his Department took to gather evidence on the use of arms exports in relation to Gaza.

Bill Rammell: All arms export license applications are considered on a case by case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. This includes criteria covering internal repression and external aggression. We assess each application in the light of information received from several sources, including our embassies, non-governmental organisations and international agencies and in accordance with the EU Arms Export Users Guide, which was published in the UK's 2007 Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls.

Middle East: Peace Negotiations

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the discussions between the Turkish Prime Minister and the Israeli Prime Minister on peace in the Middle East which took place between 1 November and 27 December 2008.

Bill Rammell: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan last met Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Turkey on 22 December 2008. The details of that meeting, and any other private conversations which may have taken place, are a matter for the governments concerned.

Morocco: Fisheries

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 124W, on Morocco: fisheries, what representations the Government has made to the Moroccan government to ensure that the indigenous people of Western Sahara receive licensing revenues or aid derived from the EU-Morocco Fisheries Agreement as a result of the fishing activity of UK trawlers in the waters of the occupied Western Sahara.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 17 March 2009
	The Government maintain the position that the Government of Morocco—as the de facto administering power of Western Sahara—are obliged under international law to ensure that economic activities under administration, including the extraction and exportation of phosphates, do not adversely affect the interests of the people of Western Sahara.
	Our officials in Rabat discuss a range of issues relating to the Western Sahara with their Moroccan counterparts, including when appropriate the issue of fishing revenues.
	There are currently only two UK vessels operating in the waters off Western Sahara under the EU—Morocco Fisheries Agreement. All the fish caught are landed in Dakhla, Western Sahara and sold through the local markets or processed in a local factory.

Morocco: Mining

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 228W, on Morocco: mining, what steps the Government are taking to seek to ensure that Morocco fulfils its obligations under international law to ensure that the extraction and exportation of phosphates do not adversely affect the interests of people in Western Sahara.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 20 March 2009
	The UK maintains its position that Morocco, as the de facto administering power of Western Sahara, is obliged under international law to ensure that economic activities under administration—including the extraction and exportation of phosphates—do not adversely affect the interests of the people in Western Sahara. The UK has not recently raised this issue with the Moroccan authorities.
	However, the Government firmly support the principles of transparency and good governance with regards to the extractive industries generally. In November 2008, the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) held a roundtable meeting in Tunis, which included Morocco. Participants discussed the opportunities and challenges which implementing the EITI can bring for the north African region and for further enhancing resource management and economic growth.

Terrorism: Finance

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1415W, on terrorism: finance, how much of the £80 million allocated to his Department and the £6 million allocated to the British Council for tackling terrorism and promoting understanding overseas for the period 2008-09 to 2010-11 is new funding.

Bill Rammell: All of the £80 million and £6 million allocated to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and British Council respectively in the 2008-11 comprehensive spending review was new funding.

Members: Pensions

Frank Field: To ask the Leader of the House pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2009,  Official Report, column 966W, on Members: pensions, how much stock owned by the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund and held in pooled funds has been lent in each of the last two years; and what the monetary value of the stock was when it was  (a) lent and  (b) returned.

Chris Bryant: As I stated in the answer of 16 March 2009,  Official Report, column 966W, stock lending is not allowed in the segregated funds of the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Fund (PCPF). The Trustees have no role in deciding the policy on stock lending in pooled funds used by the PCPF.
	Stock lending by investment managers of pooled funds is intended to enhance the returns to their clients. Within a pooled fund no specific stocks are either owned by, or clearly attributable to, a single investor. Thus, the (PCPF) has a proportionate share in the value of the total stock within one or more equity-based funds.
	At 31 December 2007 and 31 December 2008 the PCPF had pooled assets on loan to the value of some £31 million and £19 million, respectively, representing some 8 per cent. and 6 per cent. of the total value of the Fund on these dates.

Departmental Data Protection

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1739W, on departmental data protection, what security systems are in place to separate visitor and test wireless networks from his Department's local area network infrastructure; what policies are in place for the protection of local area network infrastructure via  (a) firewalls and  (b) layer three switches; who is responsible for auditing and checking these security measures; how frequently security checks are performed; and what the average time is for remediation of vulnerabilities.

Gerry Sutcliffe: There is no connection between the visitor and test wireless networks and the test wireless network does not carry any work or protectively marked traffic. No wireless network is connected to the main office network.
	All wireless connections are protected by hardware firewalls and are covered as part of the regular annual audit process. Security vulnerabilities are addressed immediately they are notified.

Departmental Data Protection

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 1739-40W, on departmental data protection, what systems are in place to ensure that his Department's IT security hierarchy is fit for purpose.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Our Security Operating Protocol is reviewed by external auditors on an annual basis.

Departmental Data Protection

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1739W, on departmental data protection, how frequently  (a) internal and  (b) independent external auditing of compliance takes place; what the criteria of such audits are; what elements are checked; whether his Department undertakes social engineering pen tests; what password policies his Department has in place; and what systems are in place to ensure that staff comply with those policies.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Internal auditing of compliance takes place at least annually. Independent external auditing is carried out on an annual basis. A number of criteria are used including the GSi Code of Connection, the Security Policy Framework, industry best practice and relevant Info Sec Memoranda.
	We do not report on the scope of security testing nor the full list of test criteria for security reasons.
	My Department does carry out social engineering vulnerability testing.
	My Department's password policies conform to central standards.
	A full range of guidance on security policies and best practice is available to staff via my Department's intranet.
	We are currently deploying additional training and compliance testing for all staff.

Research: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1069W, on departmental research, whether any projects have been commissioned using his Department's Joint Research Budget since the date of that Answer.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 13 March 2009
	 The Department has commissioned three projects:
	(i) University of London's EPPI-centre and Matrix Knowledge Group have been appointed to conduct research on participation in culture and sport. The research will draw together current evidence to address fundamental questions for public policy development in this area: what drives engagement and how do we understand and maximise the value and benefits it brings. It will report in winter 2009-10.
	(ii) Identifying and exploring options for developing a comprehensive national cultural and sporting assets database, building on active places http://www.activeplaces.co.uk/ and related datasets to look at supply across DCMS sectors. The scoping exercise will also explore the definition of a cultural and sporting asset. Contractors BOP Consulting will report in spring 2009.
	(iii) Understanding regional evidence needs. With the advent of Integrated Regional Strategies, and the wind up of the Regional Cultural Consortiums. BMG have been commissioned to identify and appraise options for meeting research and evidence needs shared by the four agencies at regional level, ensuring that common research questions can be addressed consistently within a national framework. The work should propose a number of different models to achieve this. It will report in June 2009.
	We are also working with the Economic and Social Research Council to place culture and sports engagement questions in Understanding Society:
	http://www.understandingsociety.org.uk/
	the new household longitudinal study. This will deliver initial data in 2011.

Community Relations

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2009,  Official Report, column 476W, on community relations, how much her Department is paying  (a) the Tavistock Institute and  (b) De Montfort University for the research commissioned from them.

Sadiq Khan: The total value of the contract for the research conducted by the Tavistock Institute is £24,500 plus VAT. The total cost for the De Montfort University research contract is £65,600 plus VAT.

Community Relations

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2009,  Official Report, column 476W, on community relations, by what date she expects  (a) the Tavistock Institute and  (b) De Montfort University to report to her Department on the results of their research into the national and international factors contributing to violent extremism.

Sadiq Khan: The research that the Tavistock Institute is carrying out for Communities and Local Government has two phases. The first phase was finished in February, and the second phase, setting out guidelines for carrying out evaluation, is due to be available in April.
	The final report for the Rapid Evidence Assessment research being carried out by De Montfort University is due to be completed in May.

Council Housing: Rents

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 6 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 71-2WS on local authority rents, what the timetable is for  (a) additional subsidy to be granted and  (b) rents to be reduced.

Iain Wright: Communities and Local Government wrote to local authorities on 11 March with further information following the announcement on 6 March by the Minister for Housing, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derby, South (Margaret Beckett), of the reduction by half in the national average guideline rent increase for 2009-10.
	The letter sets out a broad timetable for implementation of the changes for those authorities accepting our offer. After a short period of consultation on new guideline rents for each authority, we envisage issuing the final 2009-10 amending Housing Revenue Account (HRA) subsidy determination with reduced rental income for participating authorities in May. It would then be for those authorities to introduce the changes to their own timetables for reducing their tenants' rents.

Housing: Low Incomes

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 1107-8W, on housing: low incomes, when she expects a decision to be made on Ministerial approval of funding for the Up2You/First Steps scheme; and if she will make a statement.

Margaret Beckett: The "Up2U/First Steps" scheme announced by the Mayor of London on 3 March was potentially novel and therefore my approval was required before funding from the Homes and Communities Agency could be committed. I immediately asked my officials to work with the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to ensure that the scheme offered good value for money and that there were no practical or legal barriers to it proceeding.
	This detailed work showed that there was scope to reduce the delivery risk and improve the value for money offered by the "Up2U/First Steps" scheme. I have now approved a revised deal between the HCA and London and Quadrant (L&Q). This deal will involve the properties that were to be covered by the "Up2U/First Steps" scheme being delivered through the Government's existing intermediate market products (including Rent to HomeBuy, Intermediate Rent and New Build HomeBuy).
	As a result of this deal, all of the properties that were to be covered by the "Up2U/First Steps" scheme will now be made available at completion as affordable housing and will not instead be sold outright. As such, the deal will not only unlock development by L&Q and support the construction industry—it will also offer a better deal for both first time buyers and taxpayers.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 12 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 746-7W, on mortgages: Government assistance, how many of the cases identified meeting the eligibility criteria for the Homeowners Mortgage Support Scheme have received assistance.

Margaret Beckett: The Homeowners Mortgage Support Scheme is expected to open in April with the first lenders. The scheme will help ensure hard working people who suffer a temporary loss of income can stay in their home. It enables households that experience a redundancy or significant loss of income to reduce their monthly payments to a more manageable level, by deferring a proportion of the interest payments on their mortgage for up to two years. Further detail, including the eligibility criteria is available at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/buyingselling/mortgagesupportscheme/

Departmental Absenteeism

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff of his Department were recorded absent for non-medical reasons on  (a) 2 February 2009 and  (b) 3 February 2009; what estimate he has made of the (i) cost to his Department and (ii) number of working hours lost as a result of such absence; and what guidance his Department issued to staff in respect of absence on those days.

Jonathan R Shaw: The number of staff absent due to non-medical reasons is not held centrally. This is because it includes annual leave, flexi leave and special leave. Therefore, to provide the data for 2 and 3 February in respect of our total staffing of over 100,000 would incur disproportionate cost.
	In addition to the policies governing absence and leave, specific HR advice was issued to cover absences on 2 and 3 February due to the adverse weather. Where employees attempted to come into work but were unable to do so because of the adverse weather and travel disruption, they were credited with the hours normally worked on these days. Overall the Department is grateful to the very many of its staff who made considerable efforts to get into work on the days in question.

Departmental Official Engagements

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the official engagements of each Minister in his Department were between 1 February 2009 to 28 February 2009.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 12 March 2009
	I am depositing a table of information in the Library.
	Accurate information on the length of time spent on each engagement could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Surveys

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 534-5W, on departmental staff surveys, if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's most recent staff survey results and the analysis of the results.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 20 March 2009
	The most recent DWP Survey results (January 2008) are already available in the House of Commons Library. All previous DWP surveys can be viewed on the following site under the heading 'The Way We Work':
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/resourcecentre/corporate-publications.asp
	Over 1,200 reports are produced for all the teams participating in the survey. Therefore these could be collated and placed in the Library only at disproportionate cost.

Disability Living Allowance

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the contribution of the Minister for Disabled People of 17 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 852-5, from what budget the funding for the extension of higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance will be drawn.

Jonathan R Shaw: The measure extending the higher rate of the mobility component of disability living allowance to people who are severely visually impaired will not be introduced before April 2011. We are confident that by the date of its introduction the Department will have re-prioritised annually managed expenditure to ensure that funding is available.

Members: Correspondence

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Northavon of 28 April 2008, on behalf of Mr. Reg Morris, acknowledged with reference POS(3) 10854/0364.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 4 February 2009
	A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 17 March 2009.

Banks: Finance

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to his Department's press notice of 19 January 2009 on the Asset Protection Scheme, how performance against commitments to make loans to creditworthy institutions will be monitored; and what mechanisms will be used to report on such performance.

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 11 March 2009,  Official Report, column 417W, on business: credit, when negotiations with participating banks began; whether the specific and quantified lending commitments will be  (a) published and  (b) regularly monitored and reported; what the remit of the lending panel is; when it first met; what data it is monitoring; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: On 19 January, the Government announced measures designed to reinforce the stability of the financial system, to increase confidence and capacity to lend, and in turn to support the recovery of the economy. Further information is available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/press_05_09.htm
	These build on measures announced on 8 October last year.
	The Government are negotiating quantified lending agreements with the banks participating in the Asset Protection Scheme and extended Credit Guarantee Scheme as announced in January this year. The Chancellor of the Exchequer set out in his statement to Parliament on 26 February that Royal Bank of Scotland has agreed lending agreements with the Government. The Financial Secretary to the Treasury set out in his statement to Parliament on 9 March that Lloyds Banking Group has agreed lending agreements with the Government.
	The Government will report to Parliament annually on the delivery of these agreements.
	As announced in the 2008 pre-Budge report, the Government have established a new lending panel, which will improve monitoring of lending to households and businesses. The remit of the panel is set out in the 2008 pre-Budget report.

Banks: Finance

Gordon Banks: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2009,  Official Report, column 100W, on banks, what the Government's principles on remuneration are, apart from the principle of no rewards for failure.

Ian Pearson: The Government have set out four basic principles to be applied to remuneration policies:
	Rewards for failure are not appropriate.
	Bonus payments should be based on long-term sustainable performance.
	Bonuses are not just about past performance but are designed to shape future performance and thus should be subject to appropriate claw back.
	The regulator is to take bank remuneration policy into account when supervising a bank.
	The Government are clear that going forward, remuneration policies must be based on long-term sustainable performance in the interests of shareholders, taking proper account of risk.

Departmental Meetings

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what meetings he attended on Wednesday 18 March 2009 between 1.30 pm and 4 pm; and who else was present at those meetings.

Angela Eagle: Treasury Ministers attend a wide range of meetings as part of carrying out their duties in line with the "Ministerial Code". As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Members: Correspondence

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 322W, on hon. Members: correspondence, when he plans to respond to the letter from the right hon. Member for West Derbyshire of 21 November 2008 on the Derbyshire Building Society.

Ian Pearson: A reply has been sent to the right hon. Member.

Members: Correspondence

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 322W, on hon. Members: correspondence, when the Financial Secretary plans to respond to the letter from the right hon. Member for West Derbyshire of November 2008 concerning Kaupthing Bank.

Ian Pearson: A reply has been sent to the right hon. Member.

Members: Correspondence

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 322W, on hon. Members: correspondence, when the Economic Secretary plans to reply to the letter from the right hon. Member for West Derbyshire of 23 October 2008 on the Government's decision to implement a financial support package for the banking industry.

Ian Pearson: A reply has been sent to the hon. Member.

Members: Correspondence

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, column 322W, on hon. Members: correspondence, when the Economic Secretary plans to respond to the letter from the right hon. Member for West Derbyshire of 23 October 2008 on the merger between the Derbyshire and Nationwide Building Societies.

Ian Pearson: A reply has been sent to the hon. Member.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to reply to the email from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, dated 4 December 2008, on red diesel fuel.

Angela Eagle: I have replied to the hon. Member.

Taxation: Pensioners

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer of 11 February 2004,  Official Report, columns 1489-90W, on pensions (taxation), if he will estimate the number of pensioners paying income tax at the  (a) higher and  (b) basic rate in each year since 2001-02; and what percentage of (i) all pensioner taxpayers and (ii) all pensioners these figures represent in each year.

Ian Pearson: The information requested is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Higher rate taxpayers 
			   Number of pensioners paying HR income tax (Thousand)  Proportion of all pensioner taxpayers (Percentage)  Proportion of all pensioners (Percentage) 
			 2001-02 210 4 2 
			 2002-03 220 4 2 
			 2003-04 230 5 2 
			 2003-04 290 6 3 
			 2004-05 300 6 3 
			 2005-06 330 6 3 
			 2006-07 370 6 3 
			 2007-08 210 4 2 
		
	
	
		
			  Non-h igher rate taxpayers 
			   Number of pensioners paying  non- HR income tax (Thousand)  Proportion of all pensioner taxpayers (Percentage)  Proportion of all pensioners (Percentage) 
			 2001-02 4,570 96 42 
			 2002-03 4,700 96 43 
			 2003-04 4,470 95 41 
			 2003-04 4,830 95 43 
			 2004-05 4,790 94 43 
			 2005-06 5,250 94 46 
			 2006-07 5,420 94 47 
			 2007-08 4,570 96 42 
			  Notes: 1. Figures up to 2006-07 are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes in that year. 2. Figures for 2007-08 are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes in 2006-07 projected forward one year in line with pre-Budget 2008 report. 3. Figures for the number of pensioners paying income tax have been rounded to the nearest 10,000. 4. Pensioners have been defined as men aged 65 and over and women aged 60 and over. 5. All pensioners figures are mid-year population estimates supplied by the Office for National Statistics.

Children: Databases

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many local authorities did not meet the shielding policies deadline for ContactPoint of 13 March 2009.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 19 March 2009
	We continue to take a prudent and incremental approach to delivering ContactPoint. Local authorities have been doing preparatory work around shielding for several months, which included assessing how much time would be required to undertake initial shielding activity. We asked local authorities to provide a progress update by 13 March including whether they have robust arrangements in place to deal with shielding requests on an ongoing basis.
	Two-thirds of local authorities have reported, as part of this progress update, that they have undertaken the required shielding actions. We continue to work closely with local authorities in order to help them to complete this first phase as soon as possible.

Departmental Surveys

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2009,  Official Report, columns 549-50W, on departmental staff surveys, if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's most recent staff survey results and the subsequent analysis.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Staff Survey results for the Department and other government departments are published on the Cabinet Office website
	(http://beta.civilservice.gov.uk/about/who/statistics/staff-surveys.aspx).
	I have arranged for copies from that website to be placed in the Library of the House.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he plans to answer Question  (a) 243012,  (b) 243014,  (c) 243015,  (d) 243049,  (e) 243051 and  (f) 243053 on diabetes and schoolchildren, tabled on 9 December 2008; and what the reasons are for the time taken to answer.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: PQs 243012, 243014, 243015, 243049, 243051 and 243053 on diabetes and schoolchildren have been answered on 20 March. The reason for the delay was due to an administrative error.

Drugs: Crime

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1279W, on drugs: crime, for what reasons the police do not record possession offences by drug type for drugs other than cannabis.

Jacqui Smith: Offence categorisations as used in police recorded crime have always been broader than those used in court proceedings and the detailed returns on cautioning. From 1 April 2004, it was agreed that recorded offences of cannabis possession be separated from other drug possession offences to better monitor the use of police powers to issue cannabis warnings. It has not been considered necessary to record more detailed breakdowns on other drug possession offences as overall detection rates for these offences are high.
	Information on court proceedings and cautioning give a good picture of the extent of other drug possession offences that come to the attention of the police by type of drug.

Illegal Immigrants

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 29 January 2009,  Official Report, column 818W, on illegal immigrants, what research has been  (a) commissioned and  (b) carried out by her Department on the likely number of illegal immigrants in the UK since the publication in 2001 of Home Office Online Report 29/05, Sizing the unauthorised (illegal) migrant population in the United Kingdom.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 10 March 2009
	 The Home Office has not commissioned or carried out any further research on the likely number of illegal immigrants in the UK since the Home Office Online Report 29/05, "Sizing the unauthorised (illegal) migrant population in the United Kingdom in 2001" was published in 2005.
	We are determined to bear down on illegal immigration both on and after entry to the UK and as part of the Government's 10-point plan for delivery by 2010 over 95 per cent. of non-EEA foreign nationals will be counted in and out of the country. This is part of a sweeping programme of border protection which also includes the global roll-out of fingerprint visas, watch-list checks for all travellers before they arrive or depart from the UK and ID cards for foreign nationals.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to reply to the letter dated 21 January 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on the All Party Dance Group.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 16 March 2009.

Standing Advisory Committees

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 23 February 2009,  Official Report, columns 185-6W, on standing advisory committees, how many current members of her Department's science advisory committee have taken part in projects in the capacity of key researcher.

Jacqui Smith: The Home Office do not centrally hold information about all the personnel involved in research projects it commissions.

Departmental Recruitment

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2009,  Official Report, column 2097W, on departmental recruitment, what estimate he has made of the annual salary cost of  (a) permanent,  (b) temporary and  (c) agency staff recruited by his Department in each year since 2005-06.

Si�n Simon: The Department was created on 28 June 2007. Since it was established, the estimated annual salary cost of new recruits and agency costs are as follows:
	
		
			   
			   Total new recruits (permanent and temporary)  Agency 
			 2007-08(1) 1,074,421 124,296 
			 2008-09 1,365,124 137,402 
			 (1 )From 28 June 2007.

Departmental Lost Property

John Mason: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2009,  Official Report, column 702W, on departmental lost property, what the eight miscellaneous items of equipment detailed as lost or stolen from his Department were.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 20 March 2009
	The eight items of departmental property reported as lost or stolen that were categorised as miscellaneous to the answer of 13 March were:
	
		
			  Description  Number 
			 Mobile connection 3G card 1 
			 Portable digital dictation machine 1 
			 USB memory sticks 2 
			 Laptop docking station 1 
			 RSA secure ID token for remote authentication 2 
			 LCD monitor 1 
		
	
	The approximate replacement value is 700.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he plans to reply to the letter to him dated 15 January 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs. R. Allan.

Mike O'Brien: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State replied to my right hon. Friend on 17 March 2009.